Nursing

Educating nurse managers to play key role in retention

Nurse Leader Weekly, June 20, 2005

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According to Beverly Kaye, PhD, founder and CEO of Career Systems International, a Scranton, PA-based management consulting firm, nurse retention can be improved by teaching nurse managers the skills to support their staff, while encouraging nurses to develop their own career satisfaction.

To help managers hold onto their nurses, Kaye offers the following tips:

  • Go to lunch. Schedule lunch dates with employees. While at lunch, ask them questions such as what part of your work do you find most enjoyable? What might make your work life easier?
  • Have a career conversation. Have an honest talk with staff about their career path. Ask them what jobs they might like to do in the future.
  • Put family first. Recognize the importance of staffs' families by hosting a group event to which their family members are invited. Or give a free pass for a number of days or hours off to attend children's school programs or sports activities.

To help nurses take responsibility for their satisfaction at work, Kaye suggests urging them to do the following:

  • Ask-it's that simple. Don't expect others to take the first step, ask for the things that you want. When asking, be clear and concise.
  • R-E-S-P-E-C-T. To get the respect that you deserve, give it to others and ask for it in return. Clarify what respect means to you. Get more respect by performing well and by continuously improving yourself.
  • Energize your work. If you feel your enthusiasm slipping away, talk to your manager about other options within the hospital. Don't wait for someone else to hand you an exciting project, go out and get your own.

Editor's note: For more information about Career Systems International, visit www.careersystemsintl.com.
 
Source: Adapted from Competency Management Advisor (June 2005), published by HCPro, Inc.



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